Question

During a thunderstorm, a lightning "bolt" carries current between a cloud and the ground below.

If a particular bolt carries a total charge of 31 C in 2.4 ms, what is the magnitude of the current in amps?
and how many electrons are in the process

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Total charge carried in a bolt, q = 31 C

Time taken,
`t=2.4\ ms=2.4* 10^(-3)\ s`

Let I is the magnitude of current flowing in a bolt. The total charge flowing per unit time is called electric current. Mathematically, it is given by :

`I=(q)/(t)`

`I=(31\ C)/(2.4* 10^(-3)\ s)`

I = 12916.66 A

Let n is the number of electrons. According to the quantization of charges,

q = ne

`n=(q)/(e)`

e is the charge on electron

`n=(31)/(1.6* 10^(-19))`

`n=1.93* 10^(20)`

Hence, this is the required solution.